Custers Last Stand Against Human Trafficking

SHOP OF THE YEAR! + A Message from Shaun & Dawn

Posted on October 24, 2019 by Shaun

(Above: Shaun and Dawn Bhajan, pictured with an incredible group of fellow LMB Awards Shop of the Year Finalists, at the Detroit Velodrome. That’s a lot of awesome in one place!)

Hometownies,

Shop of the Year.

Shop. Of. The. Year.

YOUR BIKE SHOP has just been awarded League of Michigan Bicyclists’ 2019 Shop of the Year. And if you don’t already understand your role in bringing this about, please read on…

We all know Hometown is more than just a shop. In fact, sometimes you know that even better than we do, and we are eternally grateful that you never let us forget it! Hometown is a community, a philosophy, and a movement. Our Crew, our Team and, most definitely, our customers are both the core of, and the messengers for, that culture.

Your involvement, your patronage, your loyalty, and your referrals have expanded the scope and reach of EVERYTHING Hometown has ever created, including the impact we so enjoy making in both our local community and the cycling community at large.

Most recently, that impact included one of our proudest achievements – the creation of the annual Do It for Dan Memorial Ride, honoring a beloved, local rider who was struck and killed by a motorist while cycling at Island Lake. Over 550 of you turned that Ride into a powerful message to motorists and cyclists everywhere to always stay alert and to share the road safely.

It’s also worth mentioning that this award says “SHOP of the Year,” not “BIKE SHOP OWNERS of the Year” or “SHOP INDIVIDUAL of the Year”. And, of course, what is a “shop”? It’s the amplified total of all the individuals who support it.

Shop of the Year, Hometownies. What a win for us all!

With love and appreciation,

Shaun & Dawn

4th Annual Chili Cook-Off: Great Bowls of Fire!

Saturday, November 9th from 4-7 PM

It’s almost time for Iceman… do you know what that means?

It’s time to get your recipes simmering for our 4th Annual Chili Cook-Off! Our annual tradition is always the weekend following Iceman, and we are stoked to consume copious amounts of chili!

Enter your mild, medium or spicy deliciousness to win awards and perhaps even take home the very special –and kinda gaudy, but that’s what makes it fabulous — traveling trophy. And you get a whole year to share the bragging rights of being the 2019 Hometown Bicycles “Great Bowls of Fire” Chili Cook-Off WINNER!

Stir up your favorite recipe and drop it off at the shop by 4 PM. People’s Choice judging will begin at 5 PM, and the winner will be announced by 7 PM. Be sure to bring your garnishes and serving utensils, and your recipe ingredients written on an index card for allergy-conscious diners.

When you sign up, don’t let us know what kind of chili you’re bringing. It needs to be a surprise! We are all about unbiased voting, folks!

Enter your chili HERE!

FAT BIKE PRE-RIDE! Prior to the chili eatin’, Team Hometown Co-Captain Mike Dyer will be leading a Fat Bike Ride, so stay tuned for details. That way, you can burn off a ton of calories before you add them all back!

Our Team Totally Rocks… How Cool is THIS?

On Sunday, October 20th, several Team Hometown members kicked off the Detroit Free Press Marathon as lead cyclists!

Known lovingly as the “Freep”, this epic event has been going strong since 1978. Runners from all over the world have traveled to Detroit to take part — and it has become an event that encompasses people from all walks of life, not just elite runners.

We couldn’t be more proud of these guys for representing Hometown in this amazing way.

Pictured above (left to right): John Wyatt, Ron Szumski, Tom Hermann, Dennis Doherty, Doug Lapp, and Team Hometown Co-Captain and Mobile Rhythm Entertainment Sponsor Joe Ostervik.

Kudos to John Harrington for his first place podium at Custer’s Last Stand on Saturday, October 5th in Augusta, MI.

This all-volunteer benefit event is sponsored by the Join the Fight of Battle Creek, in collaboration with the YWCA of Kalamazoo, to raise awareness of human trafficking and other types of domestic violence. Way to go, John!

Entrepreneurship Event: MARKETING!

Who: Anyone interested in learning about Marketing! Business owners, entrepreneurs, start-up endeavors,

students… come one, come all… men and women, all ages!

What: Informative and FUN evening on a hot topic!

Tues, December 10 from 6-8:30 PM

Where: Hometown Bicycles! We will be closing the shop early to focus on this event!

Why: Because your Hometown ladies, Dawn and Leslie, really love supporting entrepreneurs!

Coming in a future email: Our fantastic lineup of speakers and the link to sign up! Keep your eyes peeled!

Filed under: Hometown Bicycles | Tagged: best bicycle repair, best bicycle service, best bike repair, best bike service, bicycle repair, bicycle service, bicycle shop, bicycles, bike repair, bike rides, bike service, bike shop, bikes, Brighton, chili cook off, Custers Last Stand Against Human Trafficking, cycling, cyclists, Dennis Doherty, Detroit Free Press Marathon, DJ Joe Ostervik, Do It for Dan Memorial Ride, Doug Lapp, entrepreneurship event, fat bikes, fat tire bikes, freep, Great Bowls of Fire, group rides, Hometown Bicycles, Hometown Bikes, Hometownies, Iceman Cometh Challenge, John Harrington, John Wyatt, League of Michigan Bicyclists, Leslie Barrett, livingston county, LMB Awards 2019, marketing for entrepreneurs, Michigan, Mobile Rhythm Entertainment, Ron Szumski, Shaun and Dawn Bhajan, Shop of the Year, shop rides, Team Hometown Bicycles, Tom Hermann | Leave a comment »

The elephant in the room, Ladies Night Out countdown, and we smell chili in the air…

Posted on October 10, 2018 by Shaun

Many of you are familiar with the newly installed trade tariffs that are already shaking the cycling industry, which imports much of its products – bikes, parts, and accessories – from overseas. We’re seeing the repercussions deluge down from the manufacturers, to the suppliers, to us local dealers. Last Monday, Jamis instituted a 10% tariff-induced increase across the board… and they’re just one of thousands forced to do the same.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU? We have always been and will always be a service-focused bicycle shop – with a mission of making our value always exceed our price – but we do understand that our customers rely on us to also offer bicycles, parts, and accessories. Prices on these will necessarily be impacted industry-wide, and that includes here at Hometown.

We’ll continue to make decisions that help us provide you with the best value at the best price. In the meantime, we so appreciate your support and understanding. Bear with us – there continue to be exciting things afoot here at Hometown (there always are!), and we won’t let a tariff interfere with the important work we’re doing for you!

To read up on the bicycle tariffs, CLICK HERE.

DON’T MISS OUT ON LADIES NIGHT OUT!

Guest speakers include local super-women who saved their life with cycling, lost 125 lbs. to sign up for a first Ironman, and competed in the Olympic trials!!!

Ladies! You are in for a fantastic evening… this motivational, inspiring and wine-filled event has been planned for you by your Hometown gals! We are closing the shop early on Tuesday, October 16th because this time with you is so important to us.

Unwind from your day with a 30-minute yoga class with Stacy Mulka and chair massagewith Shannon Rau. Feast on some yummo munchies and sample some wine while THE LONE MAN, Shaun, will educate and entertain you during his mini-clinics on bicycle trainers and fat bikes.

You will have the opportunity to meet with and shop from some of our talented vendors, such as Christine Addy with Drip ‘n Splatter… be sure to check out her fabulous clocks!

And then sit back and get ready to be wowed by personal stories shared by some amazing Hometown women… stories of struggles and triumphs. Thank you to Robin Fry, Cindy Housel, Leslie Barrett and Sarah Boyle for your willingness and enthusiasm to share your journeys with us!

Not only will you leave with a goodie bag chuck full of awesome, we hope you will carry with you feelings of support, friendship, camaraderie and all-around good vibes!

$30 pre-registration

REGISTER NOW or in person at the shop!

Brighton Optimist Club honors Hometown!

We couldn’t be more proud to have received an invitation to the Brighton Optimist ClubPresident’s Dinner and Annual Banquet on September 27th. Hometown Bicycles was awarded for our participation in the Brighton 4th of July Parade and Bike Decorating Contest. Over the years, we have helped the Optimist Club’s presence in the parade grow from one entrant to, this year, a whopping 50 children and parents riding their bikes down Main Street in the best parade around!

Shaun, Dawn and their beautiful award are pictured above, alongside Lt. Governor William Hampton, 2018 Governor Theresa Jarrett and Gary London, President of the Brighton Optimist Club.

Thank you, Brighton Optimist Club, for all of the awesome work you do in our Community!

Tour De Livingston 2018: What a stellar October day!

Wow, what a Hometown-pride-filled day of awesomeness at last weekend’s sensational Tour de Livingston!

Our Team was sure representin’ at this must-ride event of October and top notch Howell Rotary fundraiser for Livingston County United Way. We are so proud of you for your efforts, your positive attitudes and your overall spirit and soul as you trekked up to 100 miles to support a great cause!

Hometown gave away a beautiful Jamis Renegade, there were smiles galore, and if you take a close look at the top left photo, you may even see a Shaun on a Stick… they were everywhere!

Thank you, HOWELL ROTARY & LIVINGSTON COUNTY UNITED WAY, for another chance to support our Community through cycling!

Team News: Settlers Park Trail Cleanup and Michigan Mountain Mayhem!Thanks to everyone who came out to help work on the new Settlers Park mountain bike trail! A whole slew of volunteers, led by Tom Hermann, gathered on September 29th to beautify and make improvements to the trail located behind Meijer in Hartland.

Team members Mike Dyer, Les Cook, Jim Thompson, Keith Cowgar, Laura Faunce and Scooter Gates put their backs into it alongside Tom. They were also joined by Gage Thompson, Dan Whitman, Matt Mascot, and Elliott Klein and his family.

“We put in 36 hours of work!! It was really fun. We built some really cool features.” – Mike Dyer

The Pathways at Settlers Park consist of a paved 1.2-mile loop and a brand new 2-mile mountain bike path. The Motor City Mountain Biking Association (MCMBA) installed the bike path, which is open to two-way, non-motorized traffic.

In other team news, congratulations to Brad Allen and Erik Frazier for competing in the 60-mile Michigan Mountain Mayhem Gravel Road Race at Rotary Park in Boyne City on September 29th. The race is described as “sadistic”, if that tells you anything! Five monster climbs, lots of fast gravel roads, multiple sections of tough seasonal roads which have sand, mud and rocks, plus a white knuckle descent. Whew!

Then, Mike Dyer and Jim Thompson were muddy buddies at Custer’s Last Stand Against Human Trafficking MTB Race in Augusta, MI on Oct. 6th, rocking 2nd and 3rd respectively in their age groups. Way to take a stand, guys!

Great job, Team!

Chili Aficionados: Save the Date!

When: Saturday, November 10th
Where: Your Favorite Bicycle Shop
What: Chili Cook-Off
Why: To consume copious amounts of chili and vote for your winner
How: Spoon it in, people!

Are you a chili connoisseur? Do you think you make the baddest chili around? Are you competitive and IN NEED OF THIS TROPHY?! (You know you want it…)

Mark your calendars now and get those recipes simmering!

HOMETOWN BICYCLES SHOP RIDES

Our Shop Rides are open to the public, and span the cycling spectrum from beginner to advanced, road to trail, and everything in between. FOR ALL RIDES, please arrive 15 minutes early! Don’t miss one moment of fun! (Always confirm rides in advance on our Facebook events page. Rides, times, and locations may sometimes vary!)

Iceman Training Ride | Level: Intermediate/Advanced

*** RUNNING 10/13, 10/20 & 10/27 TO PREP FOR ICEMAN (11/3) ***
SATURDAYS, 9:00AM | VARIES | Find ride details and updates HERE!
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Gravel Grinding 101 | Level: Novice & Up